Several companies are interested in buying the ex-Liberty Steel galvanizing line plant in Flémalle and tinplate line plant in Tilleur, both in Liege, Belgium, a provisional administrator and legal representative of the production sites’ Lexlitis law firm told S&P Global Commodity Insights on Jan. 25.
“I can confirm that I am in contact with companies interested in an acquisition of all or a part of Liberty Liege activities,” Nicholas Ouchinsky, lawyer and legal representative responsible for the assets sale at Lexlitis, said.
The Liège Enterprise Court in December ruled the two plants must be restructured, with a provisional administrator and a legal representative appointed by the court. Liberty Flémalle has annual capacity of 950,000 mt of galvanized steel and Tilleur can produce up to 200,000 mt of tinned products.
The potential buyers have been invited to make offers for the Liberty Steel assets by Feb. 24.
“After that date I will be able to determinate the possibility of one asset deal or more,” Ouchinsky said.
Market sources have named JSW Steel, ArcelorMittal and NLMK among the possible buyers.
ArcelorMittal and NLMK declined to comment on the matter and JSW Steel did not reply to the request for comment.
Lexlitis is currently in discussions with the authorities of Walloon region in Belgium regarding the possibility of a loan “to make a bridge until the end of the tenders,” Ouchinsky said.
— Maria Tanatar, Ekaterina Bouckley
